The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-04
Mr.. Curtis Delivers an Address in which He
Mournfully Admits that the Present Is
Not Much of Reform Administration.
But Then, You Know, President Cleye-
land Is Entirely Honest and Sincere.
Interesting Statistics Showing the Kind of
Civil-Service Reform the Country Has
Been Favored with by Democrats.

the annual address. In referring to the public
interest in the cause of cisil-service reform, he
said:
s'The movement of public sentiment may be
measured in many ways, especially in the dis
cussions of the press and In public speeches
Until the pension vetoes and the recent orders
regard to the return of rebel flags, partisan
hostility to the present administration ex-
pressed itself chiefly in censure of its failure to
conform to absolute standard of reform-a
conformity, however, which the censuring
party does not affect to maintain wherever it
has control This censure and the continuous
discussion imply. and imply justly gem
eral and profound interest in the subject The
division iu the administration party. which is
obvious and undeniabe. springs from the same
question. and is another striking illustration Of
its strobg hold upon the public mind. Moreover.
the possible success of the Democratic party in
the election OF next year undoubtedly depends
upon its denomination of the President, who is
identified in the public mind with the cause OF
reform; and it is equally beyond question that il
the President should formally renounce the
form principles that he has declared. and which
he honestly cherishes, and should frankly
nounce that the general political reconstruction OF
the civil service, which, [ regret to saw has not
change of conviction up part in favor of
the spoils system. he would abandoned by so
large body of citizens as to bring his re-elec-
tien into serious peril.
These are all unmstakable signs of the rapid
growth of public sentimer friendly to reform.
But there is another VIII very significant.
To learn the actual and tendency OF
the country, must to party orators
at party meetings held To promote party success.
but to the same orator on occasions when they
put aside the partisan for the patriot, and speak
as American citizens anxious to discern the
ual situation, willing to recognize dangers and
to discover remedies. The striking dis
courses of this kind during the present summer,
by men eminentin public affairs but of scholarly
interests and training have described in glowing
words the conspicuous materialism of our
national prosperity and have pointed out
the most threatening of national
perils the corruption in politics which such ma
terial inevitably generates. Amid the
brilliancv of our material prosperity. corruption
discloses itself in thousand forms Mr. Bishop,
in address to the Commonwealth Club, in
New York, last March, tells us that in every
general election in that city about 500, 600 are
spent. OF this amount. the city contributes for
legal expenses 1920. 600, ard of the remaining
$410000 about 5000, 900 are obtained from assess
ments upon candidates, upon Office holders, and
contributions from rich members of the party.
The nominations to these Offices arc
thus publicly sold. There is an unders landing
that many of the BUYERS not only will REIN burse
themselves. but will gladly pay the amcnns
of the assessments for the pecuniary value
of the opportunities of the office. This is sit
uation which is not less alarming because is is
familiar. But in the situation with
which we are familiar. the startling fact is not
SO much the corruption as the spirit which
cepts corruption as necessary in politics and
which ridIcules vigorous protest and resolute
action against it as Pharisaic cant, and derdes
the man who insists upon honesty IN public life
u a
hypocrite rho is holding out TO sell
himself for higher price. Is there remedy
for these evils2' asks Governor Hadey. in his
address, few weeks ago, ct the Dartmouth
centennial of the Phi Beta kappa THE
difficulty is to convince the American people
of the need of remedial action. Once awaken
will correct it. The spoils system and the use
of money in elections. twin misbegotten mon
sters, will die just the American peo-
pie persuaded of their danger. This is the
tn-da n
public sentiment nothing can fail. without is
nothing succeed And reason of the
deep and increa sing interest in civiservice
form is the perception that movement based
upon the principle that public Office is public
trust, and not private favor a sell
fish opportunity, begins the cure OF
politician corruption by Withdrawing from it
the public countenance and justification. Every
year come here to note the progress of that
and whit fever may be the yearly re-
port of legislative OF executive action, either in
the nation or in the States, doubt
the rapidly extending demand of nublic senti-
ment 1t is equally undenable that official ac-
ton does not advance with equal steps. 1t is
true that no violation of sound principle in
legislation upon the subject, or in executive ap-
pointm or removal now occurs without a
perempto-y public challenge and intelligent
public condemnation. But such violations
still many and uniustifable They are still too
many and fragrant"
Mr.. Curtis then reviewed at great length the
progress Of reform in the national service He
said:
1.-TWO years ago. five months after the inaueu-
ration of President Cleveland, / reminded you
that in considering the condition and prospects
Of reform we viewed the question not
az supporters or opponents Of hi'
but solely as friends of civil-service
form. / said also that reform had never been
the distinctive policy of either OF the great ma
tional parties Now that two years have passed
aud more than halt the term of the admnissra-
ton has expired, it is in the same spirit and
with the Same conviction that We are to look at
the situation 1t is now possible. think, to
Judge correctly the course of the administion in
regard to reform. and regret to say that during
the two years and hve months
been respected within its limited range, and
while there are unquestionable and encouraging
signs of progress, yet according to information
which is undoubtedly authentic. there has been
4 verv significant change in the civil service. In
some of the departments at Washington this il
less apparent than at others. But in survey
Of the whole service. there has been almost as
complete a change as was practicable, since an
entirely new force of totally inexperienced officers
would have prevented the regular transaction
IF the public business few figures will illus
rate the scope and significance of the changes.
The number of employees of the government of
81 kinds contained IN the official register is
ire included IN the classified service, which COW
,rs about $3.50 places in the departments at
Washington and 1898 in the postal and customs
service elsewhere, distributed among twenty
light postofices and eleven custom
houses. Outside the classified service
Ill the minor places held at
he pleasure of certain superior officers.
mainly postnasters, collectors Of customs. and
Internal revenue surveyors and other port of
icers. marshals. district attorneys and land Of
icers. These are the effective agents when the
service is made a political machine, and upon
hem very large proportion of the subordinate
places depend. To effect virtual clean sweep.
the change of a certain number and
lass of officers only is necessary. The numb
If chief officers, including postmasters, collee-
ors, land officers and many others, 10 about
fifty eight thousand. or these chief officers. ap-
,arently about forty-fve thousand or forty
light thousand have been changed, and the
mango in these Offices inn plies a change also in
Ill places dependent upon them The changes
over deaths, designations. Justihaoe dis
nissals and reappo,nt ments upon expirations OF
erms OF about 2 400 presidential postmasters
Who serve four years. very incnnsideraoie
lumber have been reapponted and al but three
r. fonr hundred have been changed. All of the